Gradient interfaces with and without disorder

Gradient interfaces with and without disorder Codina Cotar University College London September 09, 2014, Toronto

Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Physics motivation Microscopic model emerging macroscopic structures. Macroscopic phases microscopic interfaces Approach: Microscopic modelling of the interface itself.

Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Crystals are macroscopic objects, with ordered arrangements of atoms or molecules in microscopic scale Mechanical model of a crystal: little balls connected by springs, where heat causes the jiggling Configuration: snapshot of the atoms positions at a given time.

Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity In thermal equilibrium, the jigglings explore samples of a probability measure on the configurations. This is the Gibbs measure: Prob(Configuration) exp( β Energy of Configuration), where β = 1/temperature > 0. Moving every atom in the same direction the same amount does not change the energy, and hence the probability, of the configuration (shift-invariance). If Hook s law holds, the elastic energy between two atoms with displacements x, y is given by c(x y) 2 (the force F needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance x y is proportional to that distance). Then the measure on the atoms configurations is multi-dimensional Gaussian.

Physics motivation Recap-Gaussian Measure Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Physics motivation Recap-Gaussian Measure 1D Gaussian random variables Recall: A standard 1D Gaussian random variable X has distribution given by the density P(X [x, x + dx]) = exp( x2 /2) dx. 2π

Physics motivation Recap-Gaussian Measure Gaussian random variables in R n If If x, y is an inner product in R n, then ( ) x, x (2π) n/2 exp 2 is the density of an associated multidimensional Gaussian. This is the same as taking n z j e j j=1 where {e j } is an orthonormal basis and {z j } are independent 1D Gaussians.

Physics motivation Example 2: Effective interface models Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Physics motivation Example 2: Effective interface models The interface for the Ising model - simplest description of ferromagnetism The spontaneous magnetization on cooling down the substance below a critical temperature, the so-called Curie temperature. The Ising model on a domain Ω Z d with free boundary condition, at inverse temperature β = 1/T > 0 and external field h R, is given by the following Gibbs measure on spin configurations (σ x ) x Ω {±1} Ω P Ω,h,β (σ) := 1 ( exp β σ x σ y + h σ x )P(σ), Z Ω,h,β x,y Ω x Ω x y =1 where P is the uniform distribution on {±1} Ω.

Physics motivation Example 2: Effective interface models Assume d = 2 and Ω = [0, N] [0, N]. Spin configuration σ = {σ x } x {0,...,N} {0,...,N}, spins σ x { 1, 1} Goal: Modelling and analysis of the interface phase boundary

The model Dimension d = 1 Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

The model Dimension d = 1 Interface transition region that separates different phases Λ n := { n, n + 1,..., n 1, n}, Λ n = { n 1, n + 1} Height Variables (configurations) φ i R, i Λ n Boundary condition 0, such that φ i = 0, when i Λ n. The energy H(φ) := n+1 i= n V(φ i φ i 1 ), with V(s) = s 2 for Hooke s law.

The model Dimension d = 1 The finite volume Gibbs measure ν 0 Λ n (φ n,..., φ 1,..., φ n ) = 1 Z 0 Λ n exp( βh(φ))dφ Λn = 1 Z 0 Λ n exp( β n+1 (φ i φ i 1 ) 2 ) i= n where β = 1/T > 0, φ n 1 = φ n+1 = 0 and n+1 ZΛ 0 n := exp( β (φ i φ i 1 ) 2 ) R 2n+1 i= n is a multidimensional centered Gaussian measure. n i= n n i= n dφ i, dφ i, We can replace the 0-boundary condition in ν 0 Λ n by a ψ-boundary condition in ν ψ Λ n with φ n 1 := ψ n 1, φ n+1 := ψ n+1.

The model Generalization to dimension d 2 Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

The model Generalization to dimension d 2 Replace the discrete interval { n, n + 1,..., 1, 2,..., n} by a discrete box with boundary Λ n := { n, n + 1,..., 1,..., n 1, n} d, Λ n := {i Z d \ Λ n : j Λ n with i j = 1}. The energy H(φ) := i,j Λn Λn i j =1 and φ i = 0 for i Λ n. V(φ i φ j ), where V(s) = s 2 The corresponding finite volume Gibbs measure on R Λn is given by νλ 0 n (φ) := 1 exp( βh(φ)) dφ i. Z Λn i Λ n It is a Gaussian measure, called the Gaussian Free Field (GFF).

The model Generalization to dimension d 2 For GFF If x, y Λ n cov ν 0 (φ x, φ y ) = G Λn (x, y), Λn where G Λn (x, y) is the Green s function, that is, the expected number of visits to y of a simple random walk started from x killed when it exits Λ n. GFF appears in many physical systems; two-dimensional GFF has close connections to Schramm-Loewner Evolution (SLE). Random, fractal curve in Ω C simply connected. Introduced by Oded Schramm as a candidate for the scaling limit of loop erased random walk (and the interfaces in critical percolation). Contour lines of the GFF converge to SLE (Schramm-Sheffield 2009).

The model Generalization to dimension d 2 General potential V, general boundary condition ψ, general Λ V : R R, V C 2 (R) with V(s) As 2 + B, A > 0, B R for large s. The finite volume Gibbs measure on R Λ ν ψ 1 Λ (φ) := Z ψ exp( β Λ i,j Λ Λ i j =1 V(φ i φ j )) i Λ dφ i, where φ i = ψ i for i Λ. tilt u = (u 1,..., u d ) R d and tilted boundary condition ψ u i = i u, i Λ. Finite volume surface tension (free energy) σ Λ (u): macroscopic energy of a surface with tilt u R d. σ Λ (u) := 1 log Zψu Λ Λ. Gradients φ: φ b = φ i φ j for b = (i, j), i j = 1

Questions Questions (for general potentials V): Existence and (strict) convexity of infinite volume (i.e., infinite dimensional) surface tension σ(u) = lim Λ Z d σ Λ(u). Existence of shift-invariant infinite dimensional Gibbs measure ν := lim Λ Z d νψ Λ Uniqueness of shift-invariant Gibbs measure under additional assumptions on the measure. Quantitative results for ν: decay of covariances with respect to φ, central limit theorem (CLT) results, log-sobolev inequalities, large deviations (LDP) results.

Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Known results for potentials V with 0 < C 1 V C 2 : Existence and strict convexity of the surface tension σ for d 1 and σ C 1 (R d ). Gibbs measures ν do not exist for d = 1, 2. We can consider the distribution of the φ-field under the Gibbs measure ν. We call this measure the φ-gibbs measure µ. φ-gibbs measures µ exist for d 1. (Funaki-Spohn (CMP-2007)) For every u = (u 1,..., u d ) R d there exists a unique shift-invariant ergodic φ- Gibbs measure µ with E µ [φ ek φ 0 ] = u k, for all k = 1,..., d. CLT results, LDP results Bolthausen, Brydges, Deuschel, Funaki, Giacomin, Ioffe, Naddaf, Olla, Peres, Sheffield, Spencer, Spohn, Velenik, Yau, Zeitouni

Known results Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Known results Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials For 0 < C 1 V C 2 : Brascamp-Lieb Inequality (Brascamp-Lieb JFA 1976/Caffarelli-CMP 2000): for all x Λ and for all i Λ var ν ψ(φ i ) var Λ ν ψ(φ i ), Λ ν ψ Λ is the Gaussian Free Field with potential Ṽ(s) = C 1 s 2. Random Walk Representation (Deuschel-Giacomin-Ioffe 2000): Representation of Covariance Matrix in terms of the Green function of a particular random walk. GFF: If x, y Λ General 0 < C 1 V C 2 : 0 cov ν ψ Λ C ] x y [ d 2+δ cov ν 0 Λ (φ x, φ y ) = G Λ (x, y). (φ x, φ y ) C ] x y [ d 2, cov µ ρ Λ ( iφ x, j φ y )

Known results Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials The dynamic: SDE satisfied by (φ x ) x Z d dφ x (t) = H φ x (φ(t))dt + 2dW x (t), x Z d, where W t := {W x (t), x Z d } is a family of independent 1-dim Brownian Motions.

Known results Results: Non-convex potentials Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Known results Results: Non-convex potentials Why look at the case with non-convex potential V? Probabilistic motivation: Universality class Physics motivation: For lattice spring models a realistic potential has to be non-convex to account for the phenomena of fracturing of a crystal under stress. The Cauchy-Born rule: When a crystal is subjected to a small linear displacement of its boundary, the atoms will follow this displacement. Friesecke-Theil: for the 2-dimensional mass-spring model, Cauchy-Born holds for a certain class of non-convex potentials. Generalization to d-dimensional mass-spring model by Conti, Dolzmann, Kirchheim and Müller.

Known results Results: Non-convex potentials Results for non-convex potentials For the potential e V(s) = pe k 1 s2 s 2 +(1 p)e k 2 2 2, β = 1, k1 << k 2, p = ( ) 1/4 k1 k 2 V(s) 0 s Biskup-Kotecký (PTRF-2007): Existence of several φ-gibbs measures with expected tilt E µ [φ ek φ 0 ] = 0, but with different variances.

Known results Results: Non-convex potentials Cotar-Deuschel-Müller (CMP-2009)/ Cotar-Deuschel (AIHP-2012): Let If V = V 0 + g, C 1 V 0 C 2, g < 0. C 0 g < 0 and β g L 1 (R) small(c 1, C 2 ) uniqueness for shift-invariant φ-gibbs measures µ such that E µ [φ ek φ 0 ] = u k for k = 1, 2,..., d. Our results includes the Biskup-Kotecký model, but for different range of choices of p, k 1 and k 2. Adams-Kotecký-Müller (preprint): Strict convexity of the surface tension for very small tilt u and very large β.

Known results Interfaces with disorder Outline 1 Physics motivation Example 1: Elasticity Recap-Gaussian Measure Example 2: Effective interface models 2 The model Dimension d = 1 Generalization to dimension d 2 3 Questions 4 Known results Results: Strictly Convex Potentials Techniques: Strictly Convex Potentials Results: Non-convex potentials Interfaces with disorder 5 Open questions: non-convex potentials

Known results Interfaces with disorder Adding disorder (for example, making potentials random variables) tends to destroy non-uniqueness. Consider for simplicity the disordered model e V b(η b ) := pe k 1(η b ) 2 +ω b +(1 p)e k 2(η b ) 2 ω b, (w b ) b i.i.d. Bernoulli. Adaptation of the Aizenman-Wehr (CMP-1990) argument: gives uniqueness of gradient Gibbs in d = 2 Conjecture uniqueness for low enough d d c ; uniqueness/non-uniqueness phase transition for high enough d > d c 2. Techniques: Poincarre inequalities (Gloria/Otto), log-sobolev inequalities (Milman 2012).

Open questions: non-convex potentials Log-Sobolev inequality for moderate/low temperature. Relaxation of the Brascamp-Lieb inequality. Example of potential where the surface tension is non-strictly-convex. Conjecture: Surface tension (plus maybe some additional assumption) uniqueness of the shift-invariant Gibbs measure. Conjecture: Surface tension is in C 2 (R d ) (both for strictly convex and for non-convex potentials).

Open questions: non-convex potentials THANK YOU!